THE COUNTRY OF THE GADARENES.
“The virtues build a new person radiating love to the world.”
(Metropolitan Paul (Yazigi) of Aleppo who consecrated our temple.)
“For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
(Hebrews 4:15-16)
SUNDAY 25 TH OCTOBER. Martyrs Marcian & Martyrius the Notaries of Constantinople (c 355). St. Tabitha, the widow raised from the dead by the Apostle Peter (1st). St. Front, Bishop of Perigueux (2nd).
“All of us sin constantly. We slip and fall. In reality, we fall into a trap set by the demons. The Holy Fathers and the Saints always tell us, ‘It is important to get up immediately after a fall and to keep on walking toward God. Even if we fall a hundred times a day, it does not matter; we must get up and go on walking toward God without looking back. What has happened has happened – it is in the past. Just keep on going, all the while asking for help from God.” (Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica ‘Our Thoughts Determine our Lives’)
“Whoever prays for those who hurt him lays the demons low; but he who opposes his affronter is bound to the demons.” (St. Mark the Ascetic)
TODAY’S GOSPEL. Luke 8:26-39. “Then they sailed to the country of the Gadarenes, which is opposite Galilee. And when He stepped out onto the land, there met Him a certain man from the city who had demons for a long time. And he wore no clothes, nor did he live in a house but in the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he cried out, fell down before Him, and with a loud voice said, “What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You, do not torment me!” For He had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For it had often seized him, and he was kept under guard, bound with chains and shackles; and he broke the bonds and was driven by the demon into the wilderness. Jesus asked him, saying, “What is your name?” And He said, “Legion,” because many demons had entered him. And they begged Him that He would not command them to go out into the abyss. Now a herd of many swine was feeding there on the mountain. So they begged Him that He would permit them to enter them. Then the demons went out of the man and entered the swine, and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the lake and drowned. When those who fed them saw what had happened, they fled and told it in the city and in the country. Then they went out to see what had happened, and came to Jesus, and found the man from whom the demons had departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. They also who had seen it told them by what means he who had been demon-possessed was healed. Then the whole multitude of the surrounding region of the Gadarenes asked Him to depart from them, for they were seized with great fear. And He got into the boat and returned. Now the man from whom the demons had departed begged Him that he might be with Him. But Jesus sent him away, saying, “Return to your own house, and tell what great things God has done for you.” And He went his way and proclaimed throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done for him.”
The Gadarenes were people who lived in the vicinity of the Greek influenced city of Gadara, hence the Gentile population, who unlike the Jews, we’re able to keep pigs as a source of food etc. When we view the Holy Land today with all its problems, we forget that it has always been a place of migration, invasion and shifting populations. Into this Gentile area the Lord Himself got out of the boat and planted His feet onto the land. The poor demon possessed man on seeing Jesus, spoke with the voice of the many demons that possessed him. Picture the scene of this terrifying spectre of the naked madman and the pigs feeding on the hillside, and hearing the noise of the waves lapping onto the shore from the Sea of Galilee. Into this situation we see and hear Jesus speak calmly and gently merely asking the man what was his name.
In the Gospel accounts of the life of Christ that have come down to us, we are often distracted by the people, situations and locations that surrounded the Son of God, the focus being on the events described. These encounters are evidence of the power of God Incarnate, and it is on Him we must focus our attention. His earthly life should always be seen as a continuing revelation of His love, whether it be curing the sick, the lame, the blind, the demon possessed or the raising of the dead. We see His likeness in the Holy Icons, painted by human hands, which we venerate and which proclaim his earthly life among us and His reigning in glory in heaven. The people who saw Him and heard Him speak, did not see a halo round His head or heard words that they could not understand. The presence of Jesus Himself was enough for the crowds who followed Him and the individuals that He healed. What being near Him was like we can only imagine but our prayers and the acknowledgement of our sins and weaknesses before God, will strengthen us to be able to journey towards Him. Think of the woman with the issue of blood who just touched the hem of His garment and instantly He knew that someone was in need. If our faith was as simple as this woman’s amid the clamor of the crowd we too can be healed.
In today’s account the healed madman asked to be with and follow Jesus but was told to go home and tell everyone what God had done for him. When we receive Him in church we too should not behave as if in this place only are we with Him. We are to take His message to all we meet, not by constant preaching but behaving as if we were in church, loving, being kind, being gentle and being generous. He asks us to live out our faith wherever our country, our local area and our homes may be. The Gadarenes asked Jesus to leave having seen their commercial life threatened in the destruction of the swine, not perceiving the love and power of God. We Orthodox Christians should put God above all things and not bow down to the passing whims and follies of this present age.
Much Love,
Father George.